Shower niche kit

ABSTRACT

A shower niche kit includes: at least one bottle and a shaving cream container sleeve. The at least one bottle is adapted to receive a liquid soap, a shampoo, or a conditioner. The shaving cream container sleeve is adapted to fit around and conceal a shaving cream container. The at least one bottle and the sleeve may have a similar pattern or design on them.

RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional application Ser. No. 61/362,150 filed Jul. 7, 2010.

FIELD OF INVENTION

The instant application relates to shower and bath accessories, in particular, to a shower niche kit for decorating the niche, ledge, or shelf of a shower or bath.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

In today's real estate and economic market, home remodeling and upgrades have become very popular. Home remodeling not only can be used to help one sell their home but also to merely make one's home more attractive for guests and the homeowners themselves. However, remodeling of one's home has become very expensive. One area of the home that is very popular for remodeling and is also very costly is the bathroom. One can easily spend over $15,000 in remodeling ones bathroom. One area of the bathroom that is often remodeled and is very costly is the shower, bath or tub and the areas around the shower, bath or tub. Many home owners spend enormous amounts of money on new tiling and shower or tub fixtures. As such, there is clearly a desire to show off one's bathroom by having attractive bathroom fixtures and accessories.

When one showers, one may desire to have liquid soap and/or shampoo and conditioner present in the shower at all times. Shaving in the shower or tub has also become very popular for both men and women, thus, shaving cream may also be desired to be present in the shower at all times. These items, soap, shampoo, conditioner, and/or shaving cream, are typically stored in a niche, shelve, or ledge that is either built into the shower/tub, added to the exterior of the shower or tub, or around the edges of the shower, bath or tub.

The bottles that soap, shampoo, conditioner and/or shaving cream come in are designed to grab ones attention on the shelves at the grocery store. Typical soap, shampoo and/or shaving cream containers have bright colors and wild designs and logos. These bottles are an eye soar in most showers/tubs and take away from the beauty of the shower, bath or tub. This is especially true for shaving cream containers that can rust and discolor the niche, ledge, or shelve that it is placed on. As a result of the bright colors and designs on most soap, shampoo, conditioner and shaving cream containers, and the rust that is caused from shaving cream containers, most shower/tub niches, ledges, or shelves do not look attractive.

Homeowners who have remodeled their shower, bath or tub with expensive tiling and fixtures clearly desire their bath tubs and showers to be attractive. It is thus highly desirable to create a shower niche kit that includes at least one of a soap bottle, a shampoo bottle, or a conditioner bottle that are attractive, and a shaving cream container that is equally attractive and prevents a shaving cream container from rusting and discoloring the niche, shelve, or ledge and does not take away from the beauty of the tiling and fixtures of a shower or bath tub.

The instant invention is designed to address the above mentioned problems.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The instant invention is directed to a shower niche kit. A shower niche kit includes: at least one bottle and a shaving cream container sleeve. The at least one bottle is adapted to receive a liquid soap, a shampoo, a conditioner, or other desired liquid. The shaving cream container sleeve is adapted to fit around and conceal a shaving cream container. The at least one bottle and the sleeve may have a similar pattern or design on them.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For the purpose of illustrating the invention, there is shown in the drawings a form that may be presently preferred; it being understood, however, that this invention is not limited to the precise arrangements and instrumentalities shown.

FIG. 1 is an environmental view of one embodiment of the shower niche kit according to the instant invention including one embodiment of a shaving cream container sleeve and two embodiments of a bottle according to the instant invention.

FIG. 2 is a top perspective view of one embodiment of a bottle according to the instant invention with the pump top disassembled.

FIG. 3 is a top perspective view of the shaving cream container sleeve from FIG. 2 with a shaving cream container inside the sleeve.

FIG. 4 is another top perspective view of the shaving cream container sleeve from FIG. 2 with a shaving cream container inside the sleeve.

FIG. 5 is a top perspective view of the shaving cream container sleeve from FIG. 2 with a shaving cream container inside the sleeve.

FIG. 6 is a bottom perspective view of the shaving cream container sleeve from FIG. 2 without a shaving cream container inside the sleeve.

FIG. 7 is a side plan view of the shaving cream container sleeve from FIG. 2 without a shaving cream container inside the sleeve.

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional plan view of the shaving cream container sleeve from FIG. 2 without a shaving cream container inside the sleeve.

FIG. 9 is a bottom plan view of the shaving cream container sleeve from FIG. 2 without a shaving cream container inside the sleeve.

FIG. 10 is a top plan view of the shaving cream container sleeve from FIG. 2 without a shaving cream container inside the sleeve.

FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional plan view of the shaving cream container sleeve from FIG. 2 with a shaving cream container inside the sleeve.

FIG. 12 is a disassembled top perspective view of the shaving cream container sleeve from FIG. 2 with the shaving cream container disassembled from the shaving cream container.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring to the drawings, wherein like numerals indicate like elements, there is shown in FIG. 1 an embodiment of a shower niche kit 10. Shower niche kit 10 may be for decorating a shower niche 11. However, the invention is not so limited to decorating shower niche 11, and shower niche kit 10 may be used to decorate other portions of a bathroom, including, but not limited to, other shelves, ledges, niches of a shower, and shelves, ledges and niches of a bath or tub. Shower niche kit 10 may be used to provide a container or bottle to replace various liquid containers commonly seen in bathrooms, including, but not limited to, standard commercial liquid soap bottles, standard commercial shampoo bottles, and/or standard commercial conditioner bottles. In addition, shower niche kit 10 may be for providing a matching cover or sleeve over a standard commercial shaving cream container. Furthermore, shower niche kit 10 is not limited to the elements discussed herein and may include other additional matching accessories, like, a matching soap holder. Shower niche kit 10 generally includes: at least one bottle 12 and a shaving cream container sleeve 20. These devices are shown in FIGS. 1-11 and discussed in detail below.

Bottle 20 may be included in shower niche kit 10. See FIGS. 1-2. Bottle 20 may be for holding and dispensing liquid soap, shampoo, conditioner or any other desired liquids or fluids. Bottle 20 may also be for providing a decorative replacement bottle for such liquid soaps, shampoos, conditioners or other desired liquids or fluids. Commercial containers for liquid soaps, shampoos and conditioners come in many different shapes and size with many different advertisements and colors on them which may not be very appealing when placed in and around a shower, bath or tub. The most common or the “standard” size of these bottles is typically less than 20 ounces. Accordingly, in one embodiment, bottle 12 may be adopted to accommodate such a “standard” sized bottle, i.e., in one embodiment, bottle 12 may be adapted to hold at least 20 ounces. However, the invention is not so limited and bottle 12 may be sized to accommodate other size and shapes of such bottles. Shower niche kit 10 may include any number of bottles 12. In one embodiment, shower niche kit 10 may include just a single bottle 12 adapted for receiving a liquid soap, shampoo, conditioner or other desired liquid. In another embodiment, shower niche kit 10 may include two bottles 12, where each bottle 12 may be adapted for receiving a liquid soap, shampoo, conditioner or other desired liquid. In yet another embodiment, shower niche kit 10 may include three bottles 12, where each bottle 12 may be adapted for receiving a liquid soap, shampoo, conditioner or other desired liquid. Bottle 12 may include an opening 26 and a pump top 30.

Opening 26 may be included in bottle 12. See FIG. 2. Opening 26 may be the opening for adding and removing fluid into bottle 12. Opening 26 may also be for inserting pump top 30. Opening 26 may be any size or shape opening. Opening 26 may be sized and/or shaped to fit around the top of a bottle for a liquid soap, shampoo, conditioner or other desired liquid, for facilitating the transfer of the fluid. In one embodiment, opening 26 may be sized so that a “standard” sized liquid soap, shampoo, conditioner or other desired liquid may be easily poured into bottle 12. This means that the inside diameter 27 of opening 26 may be sized slightly larger than the outside diameter of such standard bottles thereby allowing the standard bottle to be inserted into opening 26 whereby the fluid from the standard bottle may be easily transferred to bottle 12 with little or no mess. This feature of the bottle may allow a user to easily empty their liquid soap, shampoo or conditioner into the bottle by inserting the liquid soap bottle, shampoo bottle, or conditioner bottle inside the opening of the bottle and pouring it inside. The opening or top of such standard bottles typically has an outside diameter of less than 1 and ¼ inches. As a result, in one embodiment, inside diameter 27 of opening 26 may be 1 and ¼ inches or greater. In another embodiment, inside diameter 27 of opening 26 may be approximately 1 and ¼ inches. This size has been found to allow most liquid soap bottles, shampoo bottles, and conditioner bottles to fit inside. This feature of the bottle allows a user to buy normal sized products or bulk sized products (like from Sams, Costco, BJs, etc.) and pour the contents into the bottle with ease. However, the invention is not so limited, and inside diameter 27 of opening 26 may be sized to accommodate any size and/or shape of a bottle.

Pump top 30 may be included with bottle 12. See FIG. 2. Pump top 30 may be for dispensing fluid from bottle 12. This pump top may allow a user to easily disperse the liquid soap, shampoo or conditioner from the bottle. The pump top may be configured to disperse an adequate amount of liquid soap, shampoo, or conditioner for regular use. Pump top 30 may be any shape or sized pump top adapted for bottle 12. Pump top 30 may be adapted to attach to opening 26. Pump top 30 may be adapted to attach to opening 26 by any means. In one embodiment, opening 26 may be a threaded opening whereby pump top 30 may be screwed onto opening 26.

Shaving cream container sleeve 20 may be included in shower niche kit 10. See FIGS. 1 and 3-12. Shaving cream container sleeve 20 may be for fitting around and concealing a shaving cream container 22. As a result, shaving cream container sleeve 20 may decorate a standard shaving cream container 22. Shaving cream container sleeve may be any device for fitting around and concealing a standard shaving cream container 22. In one embodiment, shaving cream container sleeve 20 may include a cylinder 32 having an open top end 34 and an open bottom end 36. In this embodiment, open top end 34 may be adapted to position sleeve 20 at the top edge 38 of shaving cream container 22. In addition, open bottom end 36 may be adapted to be positioned below the bottom edge 40 of shaving cream container 22. This embodiment may allow sleeve 20 to conceal shaving cream container 22 and prevent the bottom edge 40 of the shaving cream container 22 from touching the ground when sleeve 20 may be positioned on shaving cream container 22.

The open top end 34 of sleeve 20 may be adapted to attach to the top edge 38 of the shaving cream container 22 by any means. In one embodiment, the open top end 34 may have a top channel 42 adapted to be positioned on the top edge 38 of the shaving cream container 22. In this embodiment, the length of shaving cream container sleeve 20 may be adapted to position the bottom edge 40 of the shaving cream container 22 above the open bottom end 36. The length of shaving cram container sleeve 20 may then prevent the bottom edge 40 of shaving cream container 22 from touching the ground or tiled or acrylic surface of a tub or shower. Typically, today's shaving cream containers 22 (Barbasol®, Edge®, etc.) have a height (just the cylinder, not the top) of less than 6 and ¼ inches or less. As a result, in one embodiment, the length of shaving cream container sleeve 20 may be approximately 6 and ¼ inches or more.

Shaving cream container sleeve 20 may include a diameter 33. See FIGS. 3, 4, 7 and 8. Diameter 33 may be the inside diameter of cylinder 32 of sleeve 20. Diameter 33 may be slightly larger than the outside diameter of shaving cream container 20. Diameter 33 may be any length, including, but not limited to slightly larger than the outside diameter of a standard shaving cream container 20. Typically, today's shaving cream containers (Barbasol®, Edge®, etc.) have an outside diameter of approximately 2 inches. Thus, in one embodiment, the inside diameter 33 of sleeve 20 may be slightly larger than 2. In another embodiment, inside diameter 33 may be approximately 2 and ⅛ inches. Shower niche kit 10 may include any number of bottles 12 and sleeves 20. In one embodiment, shower niche kit 10 may include two sizes of sleeves 20, one adapted to fit around a normal size shaving cream container 22, and the other adapted to fit around a large size shaving cream container 22.

A plurality of grooves 46 may optionally be included on the inside of shaving cream container sleeve 20. See FIGS. 6, 8 and 11. Plurality of grooves 46 may be for aiding in positioning the shaving cream container 22 inside of shaving cream container sleeve 20. Plurality of grooves 46 may be positioned above the bottom end for positioning the bottom of shaving cream container 22. The plurality of grooves 46 on the inside of the sleeve 20 may be adapted to provide space between the sleeve 20 and the shaving cream container 22. In one embodiment, the plurality of grooves 46 may run radially around the inside of the sleeve. In another embodiment, the plurality of grooves 46 may include a plurality of rows of grooves 46, where each of the rows may run radially around the inside of the sleeve 20.

A plurality of raised platforms 50 may also optionally be included in shaving cream container sleeve 20. See FIGS. 6-9 and 11. The plurality of raised platforms 50 may be for allowing airflow under the shaving cream container sleeve 20. This may provide many advantages for sleeve 20, including, but not limited to, preventing mold and mildew from growing, preventing sleeve 20 from suctioning to the ground, providing gripping surfaces to the ground, etc. The plurality of raised platforms 50 may be positioned around the open bottom end 36 of sleeve 50. The plurality of raised platforms 50 may be positioned around open bottom end 36 in any fashion. In one embodiment, raised platforms 50 may be positioned around open bottom end 36 where each platform 50 is equally spaced from one another.

Bottles 12 and shaving cream container sleeve 20 may include a similar pattern 24. See FIG. 1. Similar pattern 24 may be for decorating bottles 12 and sleeve 20 in a matching or decorative design. Similar pattern 24 may be any pattern or design, including, but not limited to, solid colors, multi color schemes, identical designs, clear bottles, monograms, floral designs, stars, fruits, patterns, and any combination thereof. In one embodiment, as shown in FIG. 1, similar pattern 24 may include a decorative ‘S’ on one bottle 12, and a decorative ‘C’ on another bottle 12, identifying shampoo and conditioner, respectively. Around the decorative ‘S’ and ‘C’ may be a floral pattern. In this embodiment, shaving cream container sleeve 20 may include the same floral pattern and may include additional designs instead of the decorative ‘S’ and ‘C’, as shown. The shower niche kit 10 of the instant invention may also include other accessories, like a soap holder. The other accessories, like the soap holder, may also have similar pattern 24.

Shower niche kit 10 may be made out of any materials, including but not limited to, a soft plastic. This soft plastic may prevent the bottle from being broken when dropped in the shower or tub and is much safer than a glass or hard plastic bottle. Bottle 12 and sleeve 20 may be made out of the same materials or may be made out of different materials. In one embodiment, bottle 12 and sleeve 20 may be both made of a soft plastic. In one embodiment, the sleeve 20 may be made out of a harder soft plastic. This harder soft plastic may prevent the sleeve from being broken when dropped in the shower or tub and is much saver than a glass or hard plastic sleeve.

All of the components of the shower niche kit of the instant invention may be packaged and sold together. The outside of the box may be a picture of the kit positioned in a shower niche kit or shelve. The shower niche kit may be provided with all of the items (bottles, sleeves, soap holder) in a similar pattern. The pattern may be any pattern, including, but not limited to, solid colors, multi color schemes, identical designs, clear bottles, monograms, floral designs, stars, fruits, various abstract patterns, and any combinations thereof.

Shower niche kit 10 may be utilized to decorate the niche, shelf or ledge of a shower or bath. The method of decorating the niche, shelf or ledge of a shower or bath may comprise the steps of: providing a shower niche kit 10, as described in detail below; pouring a liquid soap, a shampoo, or a conditioner into at least one bottle 12; and inserting a shaving cream container 22 into sleeve 20.

The present invention may be embodied in other forms without departing from the spirit and the essential attributes thereof, and, accordingly, reference should be made to the appended claims, rather than to the foregoing specification, as indicated in the scope of the invention. 

1. A shower niche kit comprising: at least one bottle adapted to receive a liquid soap, a shampoo, or a conditioner; and a shaving cream container sleeve adapted to fit around and conceal a shaving cream container; whereby, said at least one bottle and said sleeve having a similar pattern.
 2. The shower niche kit of claim 1 where said shaving cream container sleeve comprising: a cylinder having an open top end and an open bottom end; said open top end adapted to position said sleeve at the top edge of said shaving cream container; and said open bottom end adapted to be positioned below the bottom edge of said shaving cream container; whereby said sleeve concealing said shaving cream container and preventing the bottom edge of said shaving cream container from touching the ground.
 3. The shower niche kit of claim 2 where said top end of said sleeve being adapted to attach to the top edge of said shaving cream container.
 4. The shower niche kit of claim 3 where said top end having a top channel adapted to be positioned on the top edge of said shaving cream container.
 5. The shower niche kit of claim 3 wherein the length of said shaving cream container sleeve being adapted to position the bottom edge of said shaving cream container above said bottom end
 6. The shower niche kit of claim 2 where said sleeve having a plurality of grooves positioned above said bottom end for positioning the bottom of said shaving cream container.
 7. The shower niche kit of claim 6 where said plurality of grooves on the inside of said sleeve adapted to provide space between said sleeve and said shaving cream container, where said plurality of grooves running radially around the inside of said sleeve.
 8. The shower niche kit of claim 7 where said plurality of grooves including a plurality of rows of grooves running radially around the inside of said sleeve.
 9. The shower niche kit of claim 2 where said shaving cream container sleeve further comprising a plurality of raised platforms around said bottom end, said raised platforms being adapted to allow airflow under said shaving cream container sleeve.
 10. The shower niche kit of claim 1 including two sizes of sleeves, one adapted to fit around a normal size shaving cream container, and the other adapted to fit around a large size shaving cream container.
 11. The shower niche kit of claim 1 wherein said at least one bottle being adapted to receive liquid from a standard liquid soap bottle, a standard shampoo bottle, and a standard conditioner bottle, whereby, said bottle being adapted to hold at least 20 ounces, and said bottle having an opening adapted to fit around said standard liquid soap bottle, said standard shampoo bottle, and said standard conditioner bottle, whereby said opening being at least a 1¼ inch opening.
 12. The shower niche kit of claim 11 wherein said bottle having a pump top adapted to attach to said opening.
 13. The shower niche kit of claim 12 wherein said opening being a threaded opening and said pump top being adapted to screw onto said threaded opening.
 14. The shower niche kit of claim 1 comprising two bottles.
 15. The shower niche kit of claim 1 comprising three bottles.
 16. The shower niche kit of claim 1 where said similar pattern being selected from the group consisting of: solid colors, multi color schemes, identical designs, clear bottles, monograms, floral designs, stars, fruits, patterns, and any combination thereof.
 17. The shower niche kit of claim 1 where said at least one bottle and said sleeve being made of a soft plastic.
 18. A shaving cream container sleeve comprising: a cylinder having an open top end and an open bottom end; said open top end adapted to position said sleeve at the top edge of said shaving cream container; and said open bottom end adapted to be positioned below the bottom edge of said shaving cream container; whereby said sleeve concealing said shaving cream container and preventing the bottom edge of said shaving cream container from touching the ground.
 19. The shaving cream container sleeve of claim 18 wherein: said top end of said sleeve being adapted to attach to the top edge of said shaving cream container via a top channel adapted to be positioned on the top edge of said shaving cream container; where the length of said shaving cream container sleeve being adapted to position the bottom edge of said shaving cream container above said bottom end; said sleeve having a plurality of grooves on the inside of said sleeve positioned above said bottom end for positioning the bottom of said shaving cream container; said plurality of grooves on the inside of said sleeve adapted to provide space between said sleeve and said shaving cream container, where said plurality of grooves running radially around the inside of said sleeve; said plurality of grooves including a plurality of rows of grooves running radially around the inside of said sleeve; and said shaving cream container sleeve further comprising a plurality of raised platforms around said bottom end, said raised platforms being adapted to allow airflow under said shaving cream container sleeve.
 20. A method of decorating the niche, shelf or ledge of a shower or bath comprising the steps of: providing a shower niche kit comprising: at least one bottle adapted to receive a liquid soap, a shampoo, or a conditioner; and a shaving cream container sleeve adapted to fit around and conceal a shaving cream container; whereby, said at least one bottle and said sleeve having a similar pattern; pouring a liquid soap, a shampoo, or a conditioner into said bottle; inserting a shaving cream container into said sleeve. 